inheriting a state with the largest per capita deficit representing 17% of total revenue, and i had to go in a different direction. a lot of states were saying that they would cut, but we actually realize that our cap was too big to cut our way out of it. i went on the road and got got beat up. someone had to go on the road. there were a lot of people mad at me. a lot of folks spending a lot of money to try to defeat the organized effort at school reform, even though they supported certain aspect of it. it was the total picture that they did not want to see. they might carve out a corner they like, but it was a total picture. someone has to have the discussion. someone has to bring the discussion to the community. someone has to demonstrate you mean business. we want to work with them, but we need to change direction. hartford, new haven, bridgeport. those are some of your largest school districts. you cannot succeed at that. when you're looking at connecticut demographically, as one of the more rapidly aging states, you are throwing away your opportunities. someone had to say that. i